TRURO Despite a rash of winter storms, students have not missed a lot of school because of poor weather in comparison to last year.

Chignecto-Central Regional School Board superintendent Noel Hurley told Transcontinental Media six storm days have been utilized so far this winter.

We typically have approximately 10 to 14 days lost to weather ... a year. Nova Scotia has more school days lost to weather than other provinces, said Hurley.

We havent traditionally made them up and there is no plan to make up lost time this year, either.

Hurley said of the six days missed because of poor weather, he believes the right choice was made each time.

Every time school was closed each case was made for the right decision ... for the safety of the children, he said.

If buses break down with kids out there in the middle of nowhere or students are killed getting to school, we cant teach them. People will forgive you if you close school, but not if their children are killed getting to school.

Hurley said the board serves a 102-kilometre rural bus route, and there are specific winter maintenance regulations it must follow in order to open school when a storm will hit or in the midst of cleanup from nasty weather.

Some teachers choose to report to work on storm days, he said, but it is not mandatory.

As far as making up for time lost in the classroom, Hurley said curriculum is compacted and teachers may have to work harder to complete it, but all the essentials are still covered.